NEWS

Our beautiful Fleur (Armahani Iolite Ilo (AI)) became the first of the Iolite puppies to earn her Australian Championship today, doing it in style at the Tasmanian Ladies Kennel Club with a Best Junior in Group under Queensland judge Mrs A Everson in her first show in the junior class.

Fleur was the last of the Iolites to first enter the ring, and the first to finish, so she has done very well indeed. Although she doesn't always see a lot of competition in Tasmania, her points included a couple of lovely wins in Melbourne against some top winning Lappies, and she has numerous class in groups, so she certainly has the goods!

To make the day even more special, "big brother" Benni (Aus Ch Armahani Heliodorr Hulivili (AI)) took out his third Best in Group at the same show!

A big thanks to owner and handler Rachael Holloway for doign such a fantastic job with these two kids!

It was such an exciting night, sitting comfortably at home, flicking through Facebook, when a live stream popped up (big thanks to Leah Sundstrom doign the filming) of the first Finnish Lapphund Club of NSW pointscore show for 2017 in Sydney. I knew they had a big Lappie entry of 26, a fantastic entry for the NSW crew, but had thought to need to wait to see results.

I came in on the filming having missed the boys, with baby girls in the ring. Perfect for seeing Shell and Slinky (Armahani Iolite Ihana (AI)) who would be in the next class of puppy. She was the only puppy girl in her class, but it was lovely to see her doing such a good job and having such a ball in the ring.

Eventually it was time for bitch challenge, and will a bit lineup, we watched as the judge spent time over all of them before sending them for a final run, and much to my shock, yell out audibly "I'll take the puppy!". I literally screamed at home in excitement as I heard Shell thank the judge, with Louis and Baby coming running to see what all the yelling was about.

The dog challenge winner (who I was delighted to see was Dolce's (Aus Ch Armahani Crystal Caibmat RA) son Erik (Snofyre Cauzin Kaos), who is also a grandson on his dam's side of our previously co-owed boy Alaska (Am Ch Aus Ch Teelikamentten Iikka)) then came back into the ring. And I couldn't have possibly be more proud to see silly puppy Slinky take a 23 point Best of Breed!! Erik was RUBOB.

Although filming had long stopped by then, I stayed awake to gain the news that Slinky, in all her puppy awkwardness, managed to be shortlisted down to the final 5 in group, and was awarded Puppy in Group.